Machine foe molding cig-aks



6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. J. FOX.

MAGHNE POR MOLDING GIGARS. No. 321,592. Patented July 7, 1885.

6 Sheets-Sheet, 2.

(No Model.)

W. J. FOX.

MACHINE POP. MOLDING climas.

No. 321,592. Patented July '7, 1885.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Shet. 3.

W. J. FOX.

MACHINE POR MOLDING GIGARS.

No. S21-,592. A Patented July 7, 1885.

n :lgCL H516.

mv mamas* um I 6Sh'eets-SAheet 4.

Patented July 7. 1.885.

.c n. I

' W. J. FOX. Y MAGHINE PoR MOLDING clams.

I.. -l I P3 I I l i I I I I I YL m (No Model. i

6 'sheets- Sheet 5b (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

. W. J. FOX.

MACHINE PoR MGLDING OIGARS.

NO. 321,592. v Patented July 7, 1885.

llniTen dTnTns FATTNT @Trina WILLIAM J. FOX, or New Yoan, n. Y.

MACHINE FOR MOLDING CIGARS.

SECTFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,592, dated July' 7,1885.

Application filed October 15, 1884. @To model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:

`Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. FOX, of New York, in the county andState of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inGigarfholding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement consists in various combinations or' parts in a machinewherein a number of separate molds for cigar-bunches are successivelyopened, one at a time, to receive the bunches, and are then subjected topressure and moved along to a point where they are opened to enable thebunches to be taken from them. Each mold is subjected to pressure untilthe operator desires to remove from it the bunch which it contains. Thisis of great importance, as I shall show more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of a machineembodying my improvement; but certain parts are omitted to enable me toexhibit parts which otherwise would be hidden. Fig. 2 is a side view ofthe machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the machine, taken in theplane indicated by the dotted line a; w, Fig. l, extending from thefront to the rear of the machine. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of themachine,taken at the plane of the dotted line 3l y, Fig. 3, and lookingupward. the machine, taken on the plane of the dotted line .e e, Fig. 3,looking downward. Fig. 6 is a perspective sectional view of certainparts of the machine. Fig. 7 is an end view ofa machine embodying myimprovement in a modified forni. Fig. Sisalongitudinal vertical sectiontaken on the plane of the dotted liner.7 o, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is atransverse vertical section of this machine, taken at the plane of thedotted line w w, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a certain partcomprised in the machine shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9; and Fig. ill is aperspective view of certain parts comprised in this machine.

Similar letters of reference designate corre'- sponding parts in all thefigures.

I will describe the form of machine shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.The frame of the machine may be of any suitable construction. As shown,it consists, essentially, of two side pieces, A, and 'connectingcross-pieces A A4.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of These parts may be made of iron orother material.

B B designate a number of molds,which may be made of wood, and severallyconsist of a bottom section, B, and a separable top section, B'. Thebottom section of each mold has iianges a at the ends, and the topsection, B, has similar danges, a, at the ends. The body portion of thetop section of each mold enters the body portion of the bottom section.The molds B B in this example of my improvement are arranged in twotiers. Those in the lower tier rest upon a frame,C,(h ere shown as ofrectangular form, andtheir ends extend over the longitudinal bars ofthis frame. Themolds in the upper tier are supported by a frame, C',which is similar to the frame G. The ends of these molds, which are inthe upper tier, lap over the longitudinal bars of the frame G. Theframes G C' are supported by the side pieces of the frame, to which theymay be secured by screws,`oolts, or other suitable means.

In the operation of this machine the molds have their top sectionsseparated from the bottom sections at the front of the machine, one at atime. W'hen a mold is thus opened, any cigar-bunch contained in it isremoved and is then ready to have a wrapper applied to it. lVhen thewrapper is applied to complete the cigar, the cigar is rolled. A freshcigar-bunch is then inserted in the mold, and then the top section islowered upon the bottom section. This mold and all others in the lowertier behind it are then moved backwarda distance equal to the width ofone mold. The rearmost mold of the lower tier is then moved up Aintoline with those in the upper tier. Then the foremost mold in the uppertier is moved forward off the supporting-frame C', and is opened bylowering the bottom section onto the frame G. vWhile the molds are thusdisposed, pressure is applied to all of them except the one which isopen. 'While the foremost mold is open, the pressed cigar-bunch which itcontained is removed, wrapped, and rolled, and a fresh bunch is insertedin its place. The operation is then repeated.

It will be obvious that all the molds except the foremost are subjectedto pressure while the operator is removing from the foremost the bunchit contained and inserting a fresh IOO bunch. I preferably employ acutter, D D', and operate it so that it will cut a nished cigar to thestandard length while the molds are being adjusted, as explained.

Having now given a general idea ofthe nature and operation of themachine, I will describe the various combinations of parts which areinvolved in it.-

In beginning the description of the various combinations of parts I willassume that the foremost mold has been lowered into thelower tier. Itwill then be supported in jaws E E', by which it was previously opened,and transferred from the upper tier to the lower tier. These jaws E Eslide up and down along guides consisting of rods E2 bolted to thecrosspieces A4 of the frame. The jaws E are 0pposite each other andarranged in the same horizontal frame. They are connected to bars b,having grooves in their outer sides fitting the reds E. These bars areunited at the lower end by a cross-bar, b. The jaws E are also oppositeeach other and in one horizontal plane. They are connected to bars c,which are united at the lower end by a cross-bar, c', having grooves intheir ends tting the rods E2. From the jaws E extend clips c2, whichembrace the bars b of thejaws E.

The jaws E, their bars b, and the cross-bar b may be made in one metalcasting, and the jaws E, their bars c, and the cross-bar c may be madein another metal casting. The end fianges of each mold in turn areslidinto horizontal grooves inv the jaws E E.

The means for operating these jaws will be described hereinafter.

Assuming that the foremost mold has had al cigar-bunch inserted in it,and that it has been closed and is located in the lower tier, I will nowdescribe the means whereby it is moved rearward. When it occupies theposition just mentioned, it is over a carriage, F, slidin horizontallyupon shoulders d on the frame C. A bar, e, projecting upward from thefront of this carriage, impinges against the front of the middle portionof the bottom section of the foremost mold. This bar is not as long asthe distance between the' adjacent sides of the jaws E; hence it canpass between these jaws. Vhen the carriage moves rearwardly, the bar epushes the foremost mold rearwardly a distance equal to its width. Theforemost mold in this movement pushes all the molds that are in thelower tier behind it the same distance which it is moved. The rearmostmold in the lower tier is thus moved off the frame C and onto theplatform G of an elevator. The carriage F has at the rear a curvedtailpiece, F. A cam, F2, upon a rotary shaft, H, operates upon thetail-piece F and moves the carriageF rearwardly. Aspring, F", connectedto the carriage and to the frame O, moves the carriage forward to itsnormal position. In making the forward movement the carriage does notaffect the molds. The shaft H is shown as provided at one end with acrank, H', whereby it may be rotated. The platform G of the elevator hasextending from it bars G, which work in slidewaysf in the side pieces,A, of the main frame of the machine. The bars Gof the elevatorareprovided with spring-ngers G2, which, when the rearmost mold of thelower tier is forced upon the elevator-platform, mpinge upon the endflanges of the bottom section of the said mold, thereby holding the moldupon the platform. The elevator-platform is raised by levers I,fulcrumed to the front bar of the frame C, and connected by links I withthe elevator-platform. These levers I, which raise theelevator-platform, derive their motion from the action of cams J,mounted on the shaft H, as I shall fully explain hereinafter. Vhen thelevers I are relieved from the action of the cam, ,the elevatorplatformdescends by reason of its gravity and the gravity of the said levers Iand the links l. When the elevator-platform is raised to its highestposition, it carries the mold which happens to be upon it into line withthe molds which are in the upper tier. The elevatorplatform, after beingraised to this position, dwells there for a time, owing to the cams J,from which it derives motion, having a portion which is concentric withthe shaft H, on which they are mounted. While the elevatorplatformdwells in its raised position the mold which it bears is pushed forwardoff it onto the frame C. This operation is performed by a push-piece, K,which is made in the shapev of a bar adapted to bear against the rearside of the mold and pivotally connected to a lever, K. The lever K isfulcrumed to the crosspiece A of the main frame of the machine, andoscillated in one direction by a cam, L, mounted on the shaft H, and inthe other direction by a spring, L. Each mold which is pushed off theelevator-platform onto the frame C is moved a distance equal to itswidth. VIn making this movement it causes all the molds in the uppertier to move a distance equal to the width of a mold. Owing to this, theforemost mold of the upper tier is moved forward so that its end flangeswill enter the grooves in the jaws E E', the latter having previouslybeen both raised into the proper position to receive them. The jaws EE', as here shown, are raised by springs and lowered by levers actuatedby cams. The cross-bar b belonging to the jaws EA has connected to it alever, M, which is depressed by a cam, M', mounted on the shaft H, forthe purpose of drawing the said jaws down. Vhen this cam M releases thelever M, the latter is impelled upward by a spring, M2, and thenelevates the said jaws E. The cross-bar c belonging to the jaws E isconnected to levers N. These levers are rigidly connected together by across-bar, N. They impinge against the cams J, which are mounted on theshaft H. When the cams J act on these levers N ,the latter are depressedand they lower the jaws E. When the levers are released from the cams J,a spring, N 3, acting upon a cross-bar, N 4, which is connected to thelevers, operates to raise the levers and the jaws E. I have shownsprings Nim- IOO IIO

pinging against the cross-bar c' belonging to the j aws E,for thepurpose of aiding the spring Ni in raising these jaws and the leverswhich are connected to their cross-bar c. The crossbar Ni, connected tothe levers N, extends under the levers I, by which the elevator-platformG is elevated, and hence the cams J by depressing the levers N, alsoallow the levers I to descend. Vhen the levers N rise, they also' raisethe leversI. Immediately after the foremost mold has been pushed intothe jaws E E the cams J operate to depress the levers N, andconsequently to lower the jaws E. The bottom section of the foremostmold will thus be separated from the top section of such mold andlowered to the level of the bottom sections ofthe molds in the lowertier, while the top section of said foremost mold will be left on alevel with the top sections of the molds in the upper tier.

O O designate pressure-frames, which are hung at the rear ends upon pinsy g, extending, respectively, from the cross-bar A ofthe main frame ofthe mach-ine and from the frame C. These frames can be swung up and downupon the pins g y as fulcrums. Near the forward ends these frames havepivotally connected to them rods I), which t in slideways in the sidepieces of the main frame of the machine, and have at thelowerendsllaterally-extending lugs 71. Springs Q, astened to the side piecesofthe main frame of the machine and impinging against the under side ofthe lugs h, raise the rods I), and consequently the pressnreframes O O',so as to relieve the molds from pressure and. permit them to be movedalong. Levers Q', fulcrumcd to the side pieces ofthe main frame ofthemaehine,impinge uponthe upper sides of the lugs 7L, and when depressedby cams Q2, which are mounted upon the shaft H, pull down the rods P,and thereby forcibly draw down the pressure-frames O O upon the molds.The pressure-frames are forced down upon the molds at the same time thatthe jaws E carry down the bottom sect-ion ofthe foremost mold. Themachine is now in a state of rest, so that the operator can remove thepressed cigarbunch from the open foremost mold, wrap it and roll it, andinsert a freshbuneh in the mold.

All the operations described areV accomplished with a single rot-ationof the shaft H. The first movement of the shaft after the insertion of afresh bunch into the open foremost mold causes the jaws E to descend, soas to lower the top section of this mold upon the bottom section thereofand to bring it to a level with the top sections of the molds in thelower tier. The succeeding movement of the shaft during this nextrot-ation causes a repe tition of the movements which I have previouslydescribed.

The cutter D D consists of a stationary knife, D, and a movable knife,D. The stationary knife D Yis affixed to one end of a trough-likeholder, Di, in which a cigar may be laid with its pointed end against agage,

which is adjustable to suit different standard lengths of cigars, andits blunt end projecting past the stationary knife. is supported upon afulcrum, t', so that its sharp edge may swing past the adjacent edge ofthe stationary knife. A portion of the movable knife, extending past thefulcrum, is pivotally connected to a rod, D2, which slides between studst" i2, and is provided with a laterally-extending lug, j. A toe, k,extending from the shaft H, operates upon this lug j,

when the shaft is rotated, so as to pull the rod.

D2 rearward and cause the movable knife to descend and cut off theportion of the cigar projecting beyond the stationary knife. The toe k,after having done this work, passes beyoud the lugj and releases the rodD2, whereupon a spring, D3, raises the movable knife to its normalposition. The operator is to place each finished cigar in thetrough-like holder Di when he inserts a fresh cigar-bunch in theforemost mold, and then the finished cigar will be eut at the same timethe top of the foremost mold is brought down upon the bot-- tom sectionthereof. The movable knife D may be operated by the hand of the operatorat any time, if desirable.

I will now explain the machine shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 1l. Theframe of this machine is substantially like the one before described.The molds I3 B are like those which I have already described. For thismachine there are to be two attendants, who will occupy positions at theends. The bottom and top sections of the molds are separated at one endof the machine, and their seetions travel along while separated to theother end of the machine. Here they have bunches inserted in them. Afterthe insertion of bunch es into them they are closed, and while closedthey travel along to the rear end of the machine, where they areseparated. Then the pressed bunches are withdrawn and wrappers areapplied and rolled on. There are always two series of molds in thismachine, as in the other; but in this machine one set have theirsections closed, and the other set have their sections separated, andthe upper sections of Athe latter travel above and their lower sectionsbelow the set of molds which have their sections closed.

vWith this preliminary explanation I will proceed to a detaileddescription. The set of molds which are closed are supported by andtravel alongafraine, G. The bottom sections of the molds of the otherset are supported by and travel along a frame, C. They are guided bylips or ribs Z, projecting upward from the frame C. The top sections ofthe last-mentioned molds have their end danges supported by rails C2.They travel along these rails and are guided by lips or ribs l',projecting upward from these rails.

At the front end of the machine is a carrier, S, having two grooves, m,one being arranged on each. side of the machine. These grooves m are inthe same horizontal plane.

The movable knife I IIO One end of this carrier is very clearly shown inFig. 1l. Both ends are similarly constructed. It will be seen that thegrooves are formed by bending bars n down and back under the main bar ofthe carrier. The end of these bars u are bent outward and downward andenter vertical grooves formed in the inner surfaces of the side piecesof the main frame of the machine. The carrier S is capable of moving upinto a position where its grooves m will be in line with the end flangesof the top sections of the set of molds which have their top sectionsseparated from their bottom sections, so that the one of these topsections which is nearest to the carrier can be pushed forward tocauseits end iianges to enter the grooves of the carrier. The carrier canthen be lowered to carry the top section, which is engaged with itsgrooves, down to a level with the set of molds which have their top andbottom sections fitted together.

G designates an elevator, which is capable of being lowered to suchposition that its npper surface will be coincident with the uppersurface of the frame C, and of being raised to such position that itsupper surface will be coincident with the upper surface of the frame C.The elevator G is provided with bars G', tting within grooves in theinner surfaces of the side pieces of the main frame of the machine. Theelevator-platform G is provided with spring-fingers G2, whereby the endIianges of the bottom section of a mold moved onto the elevator Will beheld there against accidental displacement. Between the bars G of theelevator a cross-bar, G2, extends. This bar G3 has connected to it alever, I. The lever I is supported by a fulcrum, a', and is depressed bya cam, J, mounted on a shaft, II, for the purpose of lowering theelevator. A spring, N, fastened at one end to the lever I and at theother end to the frame C, raises the said lever and thereby raises theelevator whenever the cam J releases the lever.

At the rear end of the machine there is a carrier, S, which inconstruction and operation is like the carrier S. Its component partsare similarly lettered. It is intended to receive the top section of therearmost mold, having` its top section ttcd to its bottom secg tion, andthen to separate the same from the bottom section and raise the same tothe level of the top sections of the molds that have the top sectionsseparated from the bottom sections.

At the rear end of the machine is an elevator, Gt, constructed like theelevator G, and operating similarly. This elevator G* is furnished withspring-fingers G5, like the springfingers G2, heretofore described. Fromthe elevator G4 extend downwardly bars G,worlr ing in grooves in theside pieces of the main frame of the machine, and connected by across-bar, G7. A lever, I2, supported by a fulcrum, a2, is connected tothe cross-bar G. A pin, o, extending laterally from the lever I, entersa slot, o', in the lever I2; hence when the lever I is depressed by thecam J the lever I2 will be similarly depressed. A'spring, N5, fastenedat one end to the lever I2 and at the other end to the frame C, aids inraising the levers I I2 whenever the cam J releases them. A lever, T,extends between the carrier S and the elevator G", and a lever, T,extends between the elevator G and the carrier S. These levers areslotted near the ends to receive pins p, extending laterally from theelevator and carriers, so as to allow of their play through arcs ofcircles. Vhen the elevators are raised by the levers I I2, the carrierswill, through the levers T T', be lowered, and, conversely, when theelevators are lowered the carriers will be raised. I will assume thatthe elevators have been raised and the carriers have been lowered. Theelevator G and the carrier S will then be ready to deliver the bottomand top section of a mold, and the elevator G4 and carrier S will beready to receive the bottom and top section of a mold. Vhen the partsare in this position, the bottom mold-section on the elevator G willhave received a cigarbunch, and it and the corresponding top moldsectionwill have been brought together. While the parts are thus disposed, apushpiece, K, is moved rearward and forces the mold-sections from theelevator G and carrier S onto the frame C. All the molds on this frame Cwill, by this operation, be moved a distance equal to the width of onemold, and the rearmost mold will have its bottom section forced onto theelevator G4, and its top section forced into the carrier S. After thishas been done, the elevators descend and the carriers rise. The pressedcigarbunch contained in the bottom section of a mold supported by theelevator G will now be removed, rolled, and wrapped. The elevator G2 andthe carrier S will then be ready to deliver the bottom and top sectionsof the mold which they support, and the elevator G and carrier S will beready to receive the bottom and top sections of a mold. A cigar-bunchwill now be placed in the bottom section of the foremost mold. At thistime the push-pieces K2 move forward and push the mold-sections, whichare supported by the elevator G4 and ca rrier S, forward a distanceequal to their width. The top sections of molds supported by the railsC2 will all be moved correspondingly forward, and the foremost mold willhave its top section forced into the carrier S and its bottom sectionforced onto the elevator G, so as to be ready for another cigarbun ch.The push-piece K has affixed to it two slider-bars, which work inhorizontal grooves in the side pieces of the main frame of the machine.Its slider-bars have levers K pivotally connected to them. These leversare fulcrumed at q to the side pieces of the main frame of the machine,be-

low the points where they are connected tothe slider-bars, and at theirlower ends they are actuated by cams L on the shaft EI, so that theirupper ends will move the push-piece IOO IIO

rearward. Vhen the cams L release the levers K, springs L', connected tothe said levers and to the side pieces of the main frame of the machine,force the push-piece forward. The push-pieces K2 work in recesses formedin the inner surfaces of the side pieces of the main frame of themachine. They have diverging arms, whose ends project inwardly so as tobe capable of abutting against the mold-sections supported by theelevator G and carrier S when the said elevator is raised and the saidcarrier is lowered. These push-pieces K2 are similarly constructed. Oneis clearly illustrated in Fig. 10. Levers K3, fulcrumed at i' betweentheir ends to the side pieces ofthe main frame of the machine, are atthe upper ends pivotally connected to these push-pieces K, and at theirlower ends are actuated by cams L2 on the shaft H, so as to force thepush-pieces K2 forward. Springs L3, connected to the levers Ks and tothe side pieces of the main frame of the machine, move the levers in thereverse direction when permitted by the cams L, and consequently movethe push-pieces rearward. Above the molds, which are located upon theframe G', is a pressure-bar O. This is pivotally connected at or nearone end to a pin, y', and is pivotally connected to links or rods P,which extend from it to levers Q. rlhe levers Q are actuated to draw thepressure-bar O downward by cams Q? on the shaft H. Springs Q raise theselevers, and consequently the pressurebar, whenever the cam permits themto do so. The pressure-bar is drawn down when the elevator-platforms G Gare lowered and the carriers S S are raised. The shaft H may be rotatedby a hand-crank or otherwise.

At the rear of the machine l intend to employ a cutter like the onecomprised in the machine first described.

Obviously the jaws E E in the machine irst described and the elevatorsand carriers in the other machine constitute mold openers and closers;that the push-pieces in such machines constitute propellers for movingthe molds along, and that the pressure-bars constitute pressers.

and consequently of cigars, may be attained. Owing to the perfection ofthe bunches which it is possible to attain with the use of such machine,the minimum quantity of tobacco for the wrapper may always be employed,and hence a saving in this respect.

Labor is saved in making cigars with the machine, because the operationof the machine may be effected by the act necessary to trim oft' the endof the cigars with the cutter.

A saving of space and expense results from the use of the machine ascompared with large blocks of molds and presses.

ln consequence of the exactness with which my machine will operate onthe molds, the latter will be more than ordinarily durable. As eachbunch is kept pressed by my machine until the operator wants to use it,the shape given it by the mold will be preserved.

The work done with the machine will closely approximate hand-work.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. In a machine for pressing cigar-bunches, the combination of a seriesof molds, a propeller for moving the molds along, a mold opener andcloser, and a presser independent of the propeller and the mold openerand closer exerting pressure on the molds after they are closed to keepthem under pressure, substantially as specified.

2. In a machine for pressing ci gar-bunches, the combination, withmold-supports, of moldsections having cavities extending lengthwise ofthem between the ends, and having anges at the ends adapted to bereceived by said supports and sustained thereby, a propeller for movingthe mold-sections along in a direction transverse to their length, amold opener and closer, and a presser independent of the propeller andthe mold opener and closer exerting pressure on the molds after they areclosed to keep them under pressure, substantially as specified.

. WM. J. FOX.

Vitnesses:

T. J. KEANE, NVM. G. Lrrsnv.

